Chicago Fire to Challenge A.C. Milan

The
Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today that it will play an international
friendly against seven-time European Champions A.C. Milan at TOYOTA PARK on
Sunday, May 30 at 7:30 PM CT. The two sides previously met in 2005 when the Rossoneri(Red-Blacks) edged the Fire 3-1 in a tightly contested match at Soldier
Field.

Tickets
for the Fire vs. A.C. Milan match on Sunday, May 30th are currently available
through the Fire Front Office. Tickets for this match are included in the
Season Ticket and Ten Game packages as Bonus Game 1. Groups of 15 or more are
available for all price sections and include a savings off the regular price.
Fans that purchase tickets for this Saturday’s Fire match against the Houston
Dynamo will receive a special pre-sale ticket link to purchase single game
tickets on Friday, April 30 from Noon to 6:00 PM CT. Single game tickets for
this match will go on-sale May 1 at 10:00 AM via Ticketmaster. To reserve your
seats today please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473) or visit the club’s official
website www.Chicago-Fire.com.

“The
Chicago Fire Soccer Club is pleased to welcome another world-class club to
Chicago,” said Fire President Dave Greeley. “As one of the world’s most storied
clubs, A.C. Milan will guarantee an exciting, passionate match for fans of the
Fire and the world’s game in their own backyard at TOYOTA PARK. It allows us to
showcase Chicago as the world-class city it is and our supporters as the best
in MLS.”

“It
is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to play against the Chicago Fire
again,” said Umberto Gandini, Director, A.C. Milan. “This is our second visit
to Chicago in recent years, but our first visit to TOYOTA PARK, a stadium
specifically designed for soccer. The Fire have a passionate fan base and a
very warm atmosphere at their matches and I am sure that our players will be
ready to be part of an entertaining event.”

Since
its founding in 1899, A.C. Milan has been one of the most recognizable clubs in
Italy, winning 17 Serie A championships, five Coppa Italia and five Supercoppa
Italiana. Internationally, the Rossoneri are one of the most successful
teams in the world, capturing 18 officially recognized UEFA and FIFA
international titles, including seven UEFA Champions League trophies, five UEFA
Super Cups, three Intercontinental Cups, one FIFA Club World Cup and two UEFA
Cups.

A.C.
Milan will bring a number of high-profile players for its friendly against the
Fire. Scheduled to represent the Milan side will be legendary midfielders
Ronaldinho of Brazil and Holland’s Clarence Seedorf. Ronaldinho, the
former FIFA World Player of the Year (2004, 2005), is recognized worldwide for
leading FC Barcelona to two Spanish Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups and the
Catalan club’s second UEFA Champions League victory in its history. Brazilian
forward Alexandre Pato is set to make his first trip to TOYOTA PARK. The
20-year-old forward has tallied 36 goals in 74 appearances since joining the
San Siro outfit in 2007. Current World Cup champion Filippo Inzaghi, who
has appeared in 184 matches for the Rossoneri and A.C. Milan captain
Massimo Ambrosini will also participate in the match against the Fire. A.C.
Milan is committed to fielding all of its star players at TOYOTA PARK who are
not obligated to World Cup duties.

A.C.
Milan becomes the fourth European Sister City club to visit Chicago in 2010.
Paris Saint-Germain, Legia Warsaw and Red Star Belgrade will all play at TOYOTA
PARK during the Fire’s inaugural Chicago Sister Cities International Cup on
Wednesday, May 19 and Saturday, May 22.